New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-22
FATAL FAMILY QUARREL.
SUICIDE AFTER INTENDED wIFE-MURDER.

HUSBAND WOUNDS HIS WIFE AND JUMPS FROM
FIFTH-sTORY WINDOW.
John Gcltzenauer lived with his wife Eliznbeth
and seven children at No. Ala East Sixteenth-sk
He has four other children who are married!
Geitzenauer was painter, but did not work regu-
larly, as his habits Incorporate. He never
came to his home with pleasant word, and while
near his wife was always finding fault. His
treatment of his wife and children was extremely
brutal at times. He frequently threatened TO
shoot his wife, and on Saturday last chased her
around the room with razor. The children
begged him not to kill their mother and he be-
came quiet.
Geitzeniuer has not done any work for six
weeks, and for the last ten days has been stupidity
drunk all the time. lie complained to his friends
that his wife gave him sausage and coffee for hiS
meals, but fed his children on chicken. lie came
home drunk about p. m. yesterday and wanted
something to eat Mis. GeiMenauer gave him O
piece Of beefsteax. He refused to eat that and
tried to throw it out of the window. lie saw
some chicken on the window SILL and Immediately
began to abuse his wife for not giving it TO
him. "Tll have your life." he cried to his wife.
and ran into front room and got q revolver.
His twelve -yearold daughter Lulu, the only one
of his children who was home, implored him not
to shoot her mother. He pushed her roughly
aside, and rushing wildly to the kitchen fired
three shots rapidly at his wife, One Of the bullets
struck the woman in the head. but made only
scalp wound. She fell to the floor, and her
daughter dragged her into the hallway and with
the assistance OF neighbors took the wounded
woman to a place Of safety.
After the shooting Gcitzenauer. thinking that
his wife was dead, upset the furniture in the
kitchen, screaming all the while like mailman.
and then jumped out Of the window and fell iiyo
stories, landing on his back in the yard He was
alive when picked up but died as he was being
carried to his room. Mrs. Geitzenaucr was taken
to the hospital. The house surgeon found than
her injury was not serious. To Coroner Alcssemer
she stated that the principal cause OF her nus
bands attempt to murder Ter was that she had
$780, the saving of many years, which she re-
fused to give him. DR.. Hcr0ld found that tho
dead mans skull and nearly every bone In his
Jody was broken.
, In Gcitzenauer's pocket was a letter. written
in German. In the letter he shows that he has
long intended to kill his wife. 10 was dated
January lG, 1887. lie says that he married liS
wife in Westphalia in 1857. His business called
him to different parts Of the country, and whild
he was away his wife lived with one schneder.
Getzenauer made threats of bavin2 his wlIes
lover punished, and Schneider settled the case iop
sl0O With this money Geitzenauer brought bs
wife and boy. Schneder's child. to this country.
The boy is now prosperous farmer in Delaware
All the money that he earned, he says. bo
gave TO his wife, and she vut it in bank IN
her own name. The letter also complains on
Mrs. Geitzenauer's violent temper and her general
conduct toward her husband.
Mrs GeitZenauer admitted To coroner Messcuer
that her husbands statements about her iiiegiti-
mate son were true, and that her husband always
worried about it il was her opinion that thn
and drink had made him crazy.